2025-01-15 6 min read
Your garage door is the largest moving object in your home, and it's essential to understand how to keep it operating safely. With thousands of garage door injuries occurring each year, taking the right precautions can protect your family and give you peace of mind.
Modern garage doors are equipped with an auto-reverse mechanism that prevents the door from closing on objects, pets, or people. To test this feature, place a 2x4 board flat on the ground where the door closes. When the door touches the board, it should immediately reverse direction. If it doesn't, contact a professional for adjustment or repair.
The photo eyes near the bottom of your garage door tracks are critical safety components. These sensors detect objects in the door's path and prevent closing. Keep them clean and free of debris, and ensure they're properly aligned. If the lights on the sensors are blinking or dim, they may need adjustment.
It might seem like a time-saver to duck under a closing garage door, but this is extremely dangerous. Even with safety features, mechanical failures can occur. Always wait for the door to fully open or close before passing through.
The spaces between garage door panels can pinch fingers severely when the door is in motion. Teach children to keep their hands away from these areas, and consider installing pinch-resistant panels if you have young children.
A partially open garage door is an invitation for security issues and can also be a safety hazard. Animals or children could attempt to enter, and the door could unexpectedly close or fall. Always fully open or close your garage door.
Visual inspections can help you spot potential problems before they become dangerous. Look for signs of wear on springs and cables, check that all hardware is tight, and listen for unusual sounds during operation. However, never attempt to repair springs or cables yourself.these components are under extreme tension.
Garage door remotes should be treated like any other household hazard when it comes to children. Store remotes where children cannot access them, and teach older children about the importance of garage door safety.
Good lighting in and around your garage helps prevent accidents. You should be able to clearly see the entire garage floor and door area. Motion-activated lights are an excellent choice for both safety and security.
Professional maintenance once a year can identify potential safety issues before they become problems. A trained technician will inspect all components, test safety features, lubricate moving parts, and make necessary adjustments.
Every garage door opener has an emergency release that allows you to manually operate the door during power outages or malfunctions. Familiarize yourself with its location and operation, but be careful.if a spring is broken, the door may be extremely heavy.
If you notice any of the following, contact a garage door professional immediately:
- The door doesn't reverse when it contacts an object, Springs appear stretched, worn, or broken, Cables are frayed or damaged, The door makes grinding or scraping noises, The door moves unevenly or appears crooked
At Garage Door Sierra Madre, we're committed to helping our community stay safe. Contact us for a comprehensive safety inspection of your garage door system.